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Chemical Weapons Act 1996
Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the operation of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996. [81140]
Dr. Howells:
In accordance with the Act, I have placed a report on its implementation during 1998 in the Libraries of both Houses.
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Mr. Pearson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on the notification under section 14(1) of the Energy Act 1976 by the Baglan Cogeneration Company to use natural gas as the fuel at a proposed combined cycle gas turbine power station at Baglan Bay in South West Wales. [81141]
Mr. Byers:
I announced on Wednesday 7 April my conclusion that the potential benefits of a proposed new 500 Megawatt gas-fired power station at Baglan Bay, South Wales, particularly in terms of local employment and economic regeneration, are such that I have decided not to use my powers under section 14(3) of the Energy Act 1976 to halt or defer this project.
Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter have been placed in the Library of the House. The general policy on power station consents is set out in the Government's October 1998 Energy White Paper and remains in force.
Hospital Discharges
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with the review of hospital discharge procedures; and if he will make a statement. [80458]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 13 April 1999]: We expect to be able to go out to consultation in the summer on a draft of the revised guidance with a view to issuing final revised guidance before the end of 1999.
Brumby Hospital, Scunthorpe
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reach a decision regarding the future of Brumby Hospital, Scunthorpe. [80283]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 13 April 1999]: A decision on the proposal to relocate Inpatient and Day Hospital Services from Brumby Hospital to Scunthorpe and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust will be made shortly, once Ministers have had the opportunity to consider all relevant factors. Ministers will only approve changes which result in improved health services for local people.
Lamotrigine
Mr. Lock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1999, Official Report, columns 656-57, on Lamotrigine, if he will list for each further evaluation undertaken or commissioned by the Medicines Control Agency in respect of Lamotrigine, (a) the name of the individual body who was instructed to carry out the further research, (b) the terms of reference of the research, (c) the cost of the research and (d) when and where the results of the research were or are planned to be published. [80229]
Mr. Denham
[holding answer 13 April 1999]: The safety of all marketed medicines is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency through the Yellow Card Scheme which collects reports of suspected adverse reactions. Lamotrigine is closely monitored under the Black Triangle Scheme, by which new drugs are
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intensively monitored for the first few years of marketing until their safety profile is established. Marketing Authorisation holders are responsible for providing the Medicines Control Agency with all information relating to the safety of their drugs. In addition, owing to the issue of serious skin reactions associated with Lamotrigine, the safety of Lamotrigine is reviewed regularly at a European level at the Pharmacovigilance Working Party of the Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products. Information about the safety of Lamotrigine in general, and skin reactions in particular, were published in the Medicines Control Agency/Committee on Safety of Medicines drug safety bulletin "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in February 1993, October 1996 and May 1997. Copies have been placed in the Library.
The Medicines Control Agency has not commissioned any research in respect of Lamotrigine.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each of the new responsibilities which he will assume when the signed Treaty of Amsterdam takes effect and for each (a) the likely effect on departmental staffing, (b) the bodies or persons in the European Union principally concerned and (c) the relevant section of that treaty and the consolidated treaties of the European Union and European Community. [80415]
Ms Jowell:
My responsibilities are to ensure that, within the context of the Government's overall policy on the European Union, Community activities in the field of public health add value and address objectives which cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States acting alone. The coming into force of the Amsterdam Treaty will not alter those responsibilities. It will have minimal impact directly on the Department and its staffing. There will be an increased role for the European Parliament following amendments to Article 129 (renumbered Article 152) of the Treaty. These provide for measures to be adopted, through the co-decision procedure, to set high standards of quality and safety of organs and substances of human origin, blood and blood derivatives and in the veterinary and phytosanitary fields which have as their direct objective the protection of human health.
Mr. Sayeed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the proposed closure of Biggleswade and Steppingly hospitals from (a) health professionals and (b) others. [80579]
Mr. Denham
[holding answer 13 April 1999]: We have received written representations from my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Hall) and from Councillor Robin Younger of Bedfordshire County Council.
Mr. Sayeed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the surveys commissioned by the area health authority into the viability of Biggleswade and Steppingly Hospitals. [80578]
Mr. Denham
[holding answer 13 April 1999]: The documents commissioned by Bedfordshire Health Authority into the viability of Biggleswade and Steppingly Hospitals will be placed in the Library.
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Mr. Viggers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision of intensive care beds there is in the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority area; and what estimate he has made of the changes in each of the next five years. [80571]
Mr. Denham
[holding answer 13 April 1999]: Intensive care provision in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority is at Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust. Results from a pilot census indicated that on 1 December 1998, Portsmouth NHS Trust had 10 general intensive care beds. A more reliable figure from the first full census of 31 March 1999 is expected to be available in May. Both figures give a snapshot on the census day and the actual number of intensive care beds on another day may be different.
In addition, there are up to a maximum of four general intensive care bed spaces based at the Royal Hospital Haslar.
The health authority are currently considering further provision of health services in the area following the proposed closure of the Royal Hospital Haslar in Gosport.
Audrey Wise:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the extent to which purchasers develop care pathways for patients with neurological conditions. [80595]
Mr. Hutton:
Service agreements should be the basis for continuing dialogue between all those involved in the care pathway to ensure that arrangements are developing as planned and that any problems are addressed in good time. Arrangements for monitoring and review will also need to be built in. If a problem arises, the emphasis in the first instance will be on a local resolution.
Consideration will be given to reviewing the extent to which purchasers develop care pathways for patients with neurological conditions if this proves necessary.
Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the report of the independent evaluation of Clinical Terms Version 3 (the Read Codes); and if he will make a statement. [81073]
Mr. Denham:
The evaluation of Clinical Terms Version 3 (the Read Codes) is being carried out in three stages. The first stage has now been completed and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
The second stage of the Evaluation is currently underway and will produce a methodology for long term evaluation of the Clinical Terminology in live use in the National Health Service. This methodology will then be used in stage three of the evaluation, which will involve continuous evaluation of the effective use of Clinical Terminologies in the NHS.
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